I was excited when I found out that the LANEIGE Water Bank Serum (aka "essence") and Moisture Cream were to be among the products hitting the shelves at Target, because I had previously purchased them from Korea and really liked them. I never reviewed them though because... I don't know why, actually. How about we do that today?
First, a little background: LANEIGE is a mid-priced Korean brand owned by Amore Pacific, and it recently launched at Target stores in the USA. The basis of their skincare line is replenishing the skin with moisture, so if you have dry or dehydrated skin then their products are extra-worthy of a look.
A quick note about Korean skincare systems: They typically have way more steps than American skincare regimens. Confusing. The idea is that applying several light "layers" of product helps them absorb properly and provide optimal levels of moisture. Personally I'm a fan of those type of skincare sets because you can add/subtract "steps" as your skin or the weather dictates. If you're not sure about which order to apply things in, the general rule of thumb is to go from the lightest product to the heaviest, but sometimes even that can be a bit confusing, so here's the order I would apply them in:
- Cleanse your face (obviously)
- Apply LANEIGE toner suitable for your skin type (labelled as "refiner" internationally)
- Apply LANEIGE emulsion suitable for your skin type (this is like a light lotion)
- Apply LANEIGE serum (also known as "essence" internationally)
- Apply LANEIGE Perfect Renew eye cream (if you use eye cream)
- Apply LANEIGE cream suitable for your skin type (I am using the Water Bank Moisture Cream)
- Apply the LANEIGE Sleeping Mask/Pack (nighttime only, as needed for extra moisture)
Hopefully that clarifies things a little bit. Now obviously you don't have to follow all of those steps - if you have very oily skin the cream and sleeping pack might be overkill, for example. But if you have very dry skin it's worth trying the whole regimen to see how it works for you.
Anyway, today I'll be reviewing the Water Bank Serum and Water Bank Moisture Cream, which I would consider to be the most essential steps in the routine if you have dry skin. I've tried most of the basic products from LANEIGE and all of them are very good, but if you're not sure where to start then the serum and/or cream would probably be the best products to test and determine how much you like the line.
LANEIGE Water Bank Serum (aka Essence) - $35 for 60ml/2 fl oz:
Product description:
The 24 hour serum essential for smoother, rehydrated skin. Optimal Mineral Water delivers moisture-maximizing nutrients deep into skin while chestnut and seaweed extracts promote a cell turnover, retexturize. Skin looks supple, silkier.
Ingredients:
WATER, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, GLYCERETH-26, SQUALANE, DIMETHICONE, TRISILOXANE, BETAINE, ISOPROPYL PALMITATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, PCA DIMETHICONE, PEG/PPG-17/6 COPOLYMER, PHENOXYETHANOL, DIMETHICONOL, CHLORPHENESIN, PROPANEDIOL, POLYSILICONE-11, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN), ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, FRAGRANCE, ZINC SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, PEG-15 PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA(LAURETH-6 CARBOXYLATE), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, BETA-GLUCAN, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) EXTRACT, COCAMIDE MIPA, GLYCERYL OLEATE, SUCROSE, SERINE, PCA, ARGININE, MANNITOL, CASTANEA SATIVA (CHESTNUT) SEED EXTRACT, ZEA MAYS (CORN) KERNEL EXTRACT, SALICORNIA HERBACEA EXTRACT, STEARYL BEHENATE, CALCIUM CITRATE, GLYCOGEN, HISTIDINE HCL, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, CITRULLINE, ALANINE, THREONINE, GLUTAMIC ACID, LYSINE HCL, HYDROXYPROPYL BISPALMITAMIDE MEA, INULIN LAURYL CARBAMATE, POLYSORBATE 20, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) GERM EXTRACT, TREHALOSE
The purpose of this serum is - you guessed it - to hydrate and give the skin a more supple appearance. The texture is light and sort of milky, and is slippery without being too loose or runny. I wouldn't yank the pump off the bottle and hold it upside-down, but you shouldn't experience problems with it running down your face while you're in the midst of applying it.
The package says this product is "for all skin", and I agree. It adds a nice layer of moisture to my dry-ish skin, but I don't think it's so suffocatingly thick that it would be ridiculous for people with oily skin to try it. If you do have very very oily skin you may want to start out with toner and emulsion first and see if that's enough though, and if it isn't then this would be a great thing to add in.
The serum has a light, fresh, almost aquatic scent - it's certainly not fragrance-free, but I didn't find it to be overpowering.
I like this product because I can use it day or night and it doesn't seem to do weird things under my makeup, plus it obviously does moisturize. This and the cream have become staples in my nighttime routine, and my skin absolutely does look more supple after using them regularly, for whatever that's worth.
LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream ($32 for 50ml/1.6fl oz):
Product description:
Strengthen and prolong skin’s moisture all day. Optimal Mineral Water restores and retains ideal hydration levels while nourishing mango butter extract repairs skin’s natural barrier, helping prevent moisture loss. Richly texturized and instantly absorbed, this luxurious cream relieves dryness instantly for the smoothest, most supple skin imaginable.
Ingredients:
WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, SQUALANE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE, DISTEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, TREHALOSE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, PEG-40 STEARATE, STEARIC ACID, POLYACRYLATE-13, PHENOXYETHANOL, SUCROSE STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, POLYISOBUTENE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, POLYSILICONE-11, FRAGRANCE, ZINC SULFATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, POLYSORBATE 20, DISODIUM EDTA, MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL, PEG-15 PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA(LAURETH-6 CARBOXYLATE), BEHENYL ALCOHOL, BETA-GLUCAN, COCAMIDE MIPA, GLYCERYL OLEATE, SUCROSE, SERINE, PCA, ARGININE, MANNITOL, SALICORNIA HERBACEA EXTRACT, STEARYL BEHENATE, CALCIUM CITRATE, GLYCOGEN, HISTIDINE HCL, CITRULLINE, GLUTAMIC ACID, ALANINE, LYSINE HCL, THREONINE, HYDROXYPROPYL BISPALMITAMIDE MEA, INULIN LAURYL CARBAMATE
This cream is intended for normal to dry skin, as the package indicates. If you have oily or combo skin you should probably check out the Water Bank Gel Cream or maybe even skip the cream entirely, because this stuff is very, very rich.
Much like the serum, this cream is packed with emollients and has a fresh scent. I actually did hold it upside-down to see if the cream would slide out and it totally didn't, lol. It's that thick. For me this is mostly a "nighttime" product - it's very moisturizing, but can also leave me looking kind of shiny, which I don't necessarily want during the day. With that said it doesn't break me out or anything like that, and is absolutely fabulous as a hydrating night cream. I've also been known to apply it to my cheeks in the winter (which can get very dry) and skip my nose/forehead (which are a bit oilier).
Overall impressions:
I was already a big fan of LANEIGE prior to their launch at Target, so it should come as no surprise that I like both of these products. And I like the "layered" skincare approach because it's so customizable and adaptable. Love love love.
I haven't tried the Moisture Bank Gel Cream so I'm not sure how it compares in consistency - maybe I'll give it a go over the summer? In any case, The Water Bank Moisture Cream has made an excellent winter cream for me, and if you have very dry skin then you may enjoy it year-round. But as a whole, I really like this line - I've used the Power Essential Moisture Toner/Refiner and Emulsion in the past and think they complement these products very well. Great things that go great together. I'm about to start testing the Perfect Renew eye cream as well, so I'll report back on that at some point.
Bottom line:
The LANEIGE Water Bank Serum is a great moisturizing serum for most skin types. The Water Bank moisture cream will work well for dry skin or as a night cream, though if you have oily skin the Water Bank gel cream may be more suitable.
Where to buy:
All of the products mentioned in this post can be purchased at Target.com. Also, select Targets are now selling LANEIGE in-store - you can find out which ones are doing so here. If you're outside the US, I recommend looking for these products on Amore Pacific's official eBay shop.
What do you think of the LANEIGE Water Bank Serum & Moisture Cream? Have you tried any of the other LANEIGE products that recently came to Target?
Disclosure: The products featured above were provided to me for review purposes, however the opinions expressed in this post are still honest and my own. I did not receive any other form of compensation. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my full disclosure policy.
I trekked all the way to Target and sadly it didn't have Laneige. It's probably better for my wallet that way, but still ~sad face~. I can't wait until I can find them on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteDid you check out the store locator on their website? I think it's coming to many (but not all) Targets. There's always the internet if you feel like abusing your wallet in the meantime...
ReplyDeleteNo. I failed the reading comprehension test and went straight to, "OMG Laneige is at some Target stores - let's go!" complete with flaily arms.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say that the Internet and I are no longer speaking to each other because of said abuses, but that's not true. Not by a long shot.
oh my gosh... I must try it out! Thanks so much! You're gonna make me poor from buying all these products!
ReplyDeleteHaha yeah, I have that problem too. I read about stuff on other people's blogs and then I want to buy EVERYTHING. :P
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in trying these products out, more specifically the serum. I am currently trying new skincare which I was initially nervous about since I have been using the same stuff for so long. I am actually having some issues on my cheeks right now and I don't know if its the moisturizer, a new foundation I've tried or something else? I have been using the lotion for a month or so but just started using it at night too since I finally ran out of my normal face cream. Maybe I will try this out under my moisturizer in the am. I do have combination/oily skin. What do you think? Also, have you ever used a foundation several times and then reacted to it weird? I have worn this foundation probably 4-6 times with no issue so I don't know what is the cause of the irritation on my face.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try these especially the serum essence. I'll keep these in mind for next winter :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to see if my local Target carries that serum. It sounds perfect for me because parts of my face are dry and parts are oily, so it seems like it would be a good fit for my combination skin since you said it moisturizes, but it's still light.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to try this line for a while, but I never seem to find a trial set for this.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course both Laneige and Hada Labo get released in the US just a few months after I move ...
*goes of in search of the trial set*
I hear great things about this line. I haven't even been to target in forever. I am now going to have to go just to have a looksee at these products. Thank you so much for sharing these with us. You know have me even more curious about them. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat "issues" are you having, breakouts? I think it could take multiple uses for a foundation to start breaking you out, or it could be a weird interaction between the ingredients in your foundation and moisturizer. Or it could be something else entirely - have you started using any new hair products, laundry detergents, etc? Those can also cause skin reactions. Also, it *is* allergy season - sometimes my skin gets itchy from seasonal allergies. In any case, that's no fun. :(
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely! And I was told that the formulas are the same as the Korean versions, so whatever you end up buying in your part of the world should be the same. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it! And if you find it's too much for certain parts of your face, you can always skip them. My nose always gets way less moisturizer TLC than the rest. :P
ReplyDeleteHmm... I remember getting a trial set of these and the moisture toner/emulsion from TesterKorea a while back. I have no idea if they still sell it, but it would be worth looking there I think!
ReplyDeleteGlad to share! :) I'd love to see your reviews if you end up getting any of them.
ReplyDeleteNot breakouts but like an itchy rash. Only on my cheeks. Idk what to do. I'm back to using my regular foundation and it still hasn't gone away. So I don't think it was that.. I'm using the same lotion but I bought it over a month ago. I haven't changed anything else.fml
ReplyDeleteItchy rash sounds like an allergic reaction to something. If the foundation was the only new thing in your routine then I'd say it's a likely culprit! Hopefully it goes away on its own after a few days, but if not I'd consult a doctor... they can probably give you something to tame the itching.
ReplyDeletenooo it better not be the foundation..I really like it lol. Also I've used it several times and didn't have any reaction until Saturday. I have to think...maybe I did something different on saturday. :/
ReplyDeleteHaha well I don't really know. You could try test-patching the foundation on a different part of your body - like dab a little bit on the inside of your forearm for a few days and see if you have an allergic reaction to it there. That's one way to figure out if that's the problem!
ReplyDeleteGood thinking girl!
ReplyDeleteThank you i will do so immediately!
ReplyDeleteThe essence/serum thingy is the product I really want to try the most (although the sleeping pack intrigues me, too). A boost of lightweight moisture sounds awfully nice. Look like I'll have to order online, though.
ReplyDeleteSleeping packs are one of my favorite things ever. Just saying. But the serum is really good. If I had to only choose one product from the entire line to keep using (sobcrysob) that's probably what I would pick.
ReplyDeleteHope you like it! So far I haven't heard anything about Laneige coming to Target Canada, but I hope it does eventually because it seems like a LOT of people there are interested!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I keep hearing about this brand, so that's exciting that Target now has it! I love using serums in the summer when I want light hydration. This sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThanks! And I agree, a serum like this would be really good for some light moisture in the summer. I'll probably set the cream aside once it gets really warm out because it is rather thick!
ReplyDeleteI have oily skin, and I have to say this line is literally the greasiest product line I've ever put on my face. I feel bad saying it, but I have to give it a bad review for people with oily skin. Honest Skin provided me with a deluxe sample of the regular water bank line (versus the light version for oily skin), and the emulsion + cream left my skin feeling like I poured canola oil on it directly after washing my face. =( Some products are clearly too moisturizing for me, but this was a whole different level. I'd love it if they came out with more Laneige makeup at Target, or perhaps the acne lines.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the serum? I think it's a lot lighter than the other stuff. But yeah, the cream in particular is really really rich - I wouldn't recommend it for oily skin. I'm actually curious how the gel cream (lighter version) is because I think the moisture cream will be too much even for me in the summer.
ReplyDeletehey ladies - does anyone know if the ingredients in the american versions are the same as the korean? THANKS
ReplyDeleteHi- I'm not sure if the ingredients are 100% identical to the Korean version. They *seem* the same to me, but I can't confirm that for sure. You can contact the company here if you like though: http://www.us.laneige.com/en/contact-us.html
ReplyDelete